Artist’s rendition of SES-12. Photo: Airbus Defense and Space

SES has signed a new broadband deal in Indonesia, the company announced on Tuesday. A partnership agreement with Dwi Tunggal Putra (DTP) will enable residents of 158 villages in remote parts of Indonesia’s West Java Province to access crucial online resources such as educational content, as well as unlocking the potential of the region’s digital economy.

DTP will be using high-throughput capacity on the SES-12 satellite to support the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology’s Smart Village project and fulfil the government’s universal service obligation (USO). SES Networks is already serving the Indonesia’s telecommunication and information accessibility agency Badan Aksesibilitas Telekomunikasi dan Informasi’s (BAKTI) Leased Capacity Project using the SES-12 ground station in Indonesia. The Smart Village project, spearheaded by BAKTI, aims to bridge the digital divide and bring much-needed e-government and other essential services to underserved rural communities of Indonesia.

“Satellite connectivity plays a critical role in providing internet access to many of Indonesia’s villages and small towns located in remote areas. At DTP, we strive to bridge the digital divide by providing high-quality internet to these far-flung, remote communities and thereby allowing access to essential e-government, e-health and e-learning services, among others,” Edi Sugianto, chief commercial officer of DTP said in a statement.